Weekend Getaways on Long Island That Kids Will Actually Love

Why Parents Should Care (Besides Keeping Your Sanity)

In 2025, family weekend getaways on Long Island aren’t just about getting the kids out of the house—they’re part of a growing local leisure market worth $3.4 billion annually, according to the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. With family-focused travel up 9% year-over-year, attractions that nail the “fun-for-them, tolerable-for-you” formula are seeing higher attendance, stronger seasonal revenue, and in some cases, hotel occupancy rates that rival Hamptons wedding weekends.

Top Kid-Approved Destinations

Long Island Aquarium – Riverhead
Up 12% in attendance this year, thanks to new interactive exhibits. Kids get penguin encounters and shark dives, parents get air conditioning and caffeine. It’s basically a win-win ecosystem.

Adventureland – Farmingdale
Still drawing 500,000+ visitors annually, and not just because parents can relive their 80s glory days. Ride wait times are shorter than your line at Costco on Sunday morning, and the under-$60 ticket price still makes it a better deal than a Mets game.

Splish Splash – Calverton
Now with 20 water attractions and a new 2025 wave pool expansion, this park saw attendance rise despite a 5% bump in ticket prices. Translation: families will still pay if you keep the kids happy and the lines moving.

Sagamore Hill – Oyster Bay
History meets nature here, with family visits up 8% thanks to interactive programs. Your kids might even learn something without realizing it—educational stealth mode activated.

Fire Island National Seashore
With a 15% spike in visitors, more families are ditching the car for a ferry ride, trading traffic jams for beach picnics and nature trails. Just pack snacks unless you enjoy overpaying for a juice box.

Market Dynamics Behind the Family Fun Boom

Local tourism data points to three key drivers: rising gas prices pushing more local staycations, expanded kid-focused programming at attractions, and lodging packages designed for multi-day stays. The family getaway segment now accounts for 28% of Long Island’s domestic tourism revenue, and that share is growing as more parents choose proximity over TSA lines.

Parent-Friendly 

If your kids are happy, you’re happy. Long Island’s kid-friendly weekend escapes aren’t just sanity savers—they’re also fueling one of the region’s fastest-growing travel segments. And if you can enjoy a cold brew coffee while they’re occupied? That’s what we call market efficiency.

Make Weekends Work for Everyone

Don’t wait until the “I’m bored” chorus starts on Saturday morning. Whether you’re chasing penguins in Riverhead, braving the drops at Splish Splash, or sneaking in a history lesson at Sagamore Hill, Long Island’s best kid-friendly getaways are booking and bustling earlier than ever in 2025.

📅 Let’s map out your family’s perfect weekend lineup—so you’re spending less time in traffic and more time making memories (and maybe sipping coffee in peace). Message me for my Insider’s Family Fun Calendar before the summer rush turns your getaway into just another errand.